The World Health Organisation (WHO) selected Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne as the recipient of the World No Tobacco Day Award for 2015.
President Maithripala Sirisena will present the award to Dr. Senaratne on December 7.
The WHO specifically mentions Dr. Senaratne's role in advancing the introduction of pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs and the effort to obtain court approval for this purpose.
It also recognises the professional life long work done by the minister in mitigating the ill effects of tobacco, particularly smokeless tobacco.
